Word came out of Indianapolis on Tuesday that quarterback Andrew Luck will miss between two to six weeks with an assortment of injuries including a lacerated kidney (ouch) and a partial abdominal tear (double ouch).
Matt Hasselbeck will take the reigns once again for the injured Luck.
Despite Luck’s ailments, I still like Indy to win the division. Who do you trust? Brian Hoyer or a guy who led a team to a Super Bowl albeit a bit long in the tooth (Hasselbeck)?
The Colts are going to be in the AFC playoffs for what might feel like 15 seconds but considering the alternative, I think they’ll happily sign up for that at this rate.
Meanwhile, the NFC finds Minnesota slowly but surely climbing their way up the ranks…
AFC
#1 – New England Patriots (AFC East champion, bye)
#2 – Cincinnati Bengals (AFC North champion, bye)
#3 – Denver Broncos (AFC West champion)
#4 – Indianapolis Colts (AFC South champion)
#5 – New York Jets (Wild Card)
#6 – Pittsburgh Steelers (Wild Card)
NFC
#1 – Carolina Panthers (NFC South champion, bye)
#2 – Green Bay Packers (NFC North champion, bye)
#3 – Arizona Cardinals (NFC West champion)
#4 – New York Giants (NFC East champion)
#5 – Minnesota Vikings (Wild Card)
#6 – Atlanta Falcons (Wild Card)
PROPOSED, FICTIONAL TV SCHEDULE
WILD CARD ROUND:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 @ 4:30PM – #6 Atlanta Falcons at #3 Arizona Cardinals (NBC)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 @ 8:00PM – #6 Pittsburgh Steelers at #3 Denver Broncos (NBC)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10 @ 1:00PM – #5 New York Jets at #4 Indianapolis Colts (CBS)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10 @ 4:30PM – #5 Minnesota Vikings at #4 New York Giants (FOX)
DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF ROUND:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 @ 4:30PM – DEN/INDY/NYJ at #2 Cincinnati (NBC)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 @ 8PM – ARI/NYG/MIN at #2 Green Bay (FOX)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 @ 1PM – NYG/MIN/ATL at #1 Carolina (FOX)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 @ 4:30PM – IND/NYJ/PIT at #1 New England (CBS)
Categories: nfl playoffs, Oakland Raiders